Page 17 of A First for the Playboy Dragon (Mysteries of Dragon’s Island #7)
CHAPTER 16
***HARRISON***
H arrison could feel the bond between them humming as he cradled Juliet in his arms, and he was filled with a deep sense of awe that there could be someone so perfect for him. He’d never experienced anything like he just had. No other woman had ever affected him so deeply, so profoundly, that he knew he’d never be the same. The most alarming thing was that he didn’t care; he was happier than he’d ever been before, and if there was heartache to come, he’d face it like he did everything in his life.
“You’re not sorry, are you?” Juliet said, looking up at him. “Your face is all scrunched up like it gets when you’re unhappy about something.”
“I’ve never been happier in my life, it’s all just happened so fast…” he said, trying to find the right words. “I just didn’t know it could be so wonderful, and I hope it never ends.”
“It doesn’t have to, right? We’re stuck with each other now,” Juliet said, her face full of worry. “I thought…well…”
“You’re not getting rid of me if that’s what you’re thinking,” he said. “You’ve captured my heart, sweetheart, it’s yours. I just hope you don’t abuse it.”
“There’s never going to be anyone for me but you,” she said. “This was meant to be. No matter how hard the way here was, I wouldn’t want it to be any other way.”
“Then we’re in agreement,” he said, grinning down at her. “Max is going to completely freak out when I tell him. He’s so afraid he’s going to be next, and now I’m beginning to think that he’s right.”
“Has this only happened to your friends?” she asked. “Has anyone else fallen in love on the island?”
“As far as I know, the island has only picked on us,” he said with a little grin. “No one else has reported anything out of the ordinary. Mateo thinks it’s because of our magic; he was pretty mad at Max when he found out we were all shifters.”
“I don’t understand it, but I guess I don’t have to,” she said, smiling at him. “I’m just glad the island was on our side. We could have missed out on this.”
“Do you mean the sex?” he asked, trying to keep a straight face. “Because I’m sure thankful for that, I was about to go crazy wanting you.”
“That wasn’t what I meant,” she said, giving him a little slap on the chest. “But now that you mention it, that was pretty nice.”
Juliet blushed prettily, and his body instantly became aroused. “Pretty nice, is that all you can say?” he asked, then flipped her over on her back. “Clearly I’m going to have to try harder this time.”
“Harrison…” Juliet started to protest, but his fingers were already busy, and her words died away with a sigh.
Hours later, they finally lay exhausted in each other’s arms as the fire slowly turned to coals. “Do you think the island will let us go home tomorrow?” Juliet asked, snuggling closer to him. “Not that I would mind spending another day here.”
“The island made its point,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll wake up in the morning, and everything will be back to normal; I hope Max hasn’t been worrying about us.”
“Do you think they felt the earthquakes down in the village?” she asked. “I hope no one got hurt.”
“I’m sure everything is fine,” he said. “The resort isn’t there right now.”
She looked up at him, a questioning look on her face, then shook her head and snuggled back down next to him. “Never mind, I don’t want to think about it anymore tonight,” she said. “We should probably try to get some sleep. It must be really late, and we have to find our way back tomorrow.”
“Good night, Juliet,” he said. “I’m looking forward to waking up with you in the morning, the first of many mornings I hope.”
“Me too,” she said with a happy sigh. “Good night, Harrison.”
He was asleep almost instantly, the comfort of finally having Juliet in his arms allowing him to sleep deeper than he had since she’d arrived on the island. The sun had been up for hours when someone knocking on his door woke him, and he slowly managed to roust himself before slipping out of bed. He paused for just a second to watch Juliet sleeping, her hair spread across the pillow; it hadn’t hit him yet where they were or how he could hear someone knocking on his door; he was just happy to have her in his bed, in his life.
Max was standing on the other side of the door when he opened it a few minutes later. An unhappy look was on his face, and he just stood staring at him, the reality of where he was finally hitting him. “What the hell did you do last night?” Max demanded. “Earthquakes during the day are bad enough, but I had an entire island full of panicked guests in the middle of the night, and you were nowhere to be found.”
“I’m sorry, Max, I think that was our fault,” he said, opening the door wider. “I don’t think it will happen again.”
“What do you mean our fault?” Max asked, a suspicious look on his face. “I hope you’re not saying what I think you are.”
“I am, and I couldn’t be happier,” he said. “Juliet is still asleep in the bedroom, but I could make us some coffee.”
“She’s here?” Max asked, then shook his head. “I don’t have time for this right now, I have damage control to do. I expect to see you both tonight at my cabin for dinner, and you’d better have a good explanation for the mess you made.”
***Juliet***
Juliet woke to the sound of men’s voices and opened her eyes. She was completely confused when she found herself in a strange bedroom, and then the events of the day before came rushing back to her. Instantly calming down, she looked around the room and saw the clothes they’d been wearing the day before folded up neatly on a chair in the corner. She realized one of the voices she heard was Harrison’s. Deciding that they must be in his cabin, she sat up, her head spinning just a little as everything that had happened slowly played through her mind again.
Suddenly overwhelmed by the kaleidoscope of images, she fought to take a deep breath, a part of her wondering if any of it really happened, or if what she’d experienced had just been a dream. She jumped when the front door closed and pulled the blankets up to her chin when she heard Harrison’s footsteps coming toward the bedroom, a blush already spreading across her cheeks.
When he appeared in the doorway, his robe belted loosely around his waist, his chest exposed where the edges of the fabric didn’t meet, her heart gave a huge lurch, and she was filled with familiar warmth. Harrison stopped, then casually leaned against the doorframe and studied her, a pleased smile on his face. Desire began to race through her blood in response to the look in his eyes.
“I was looking forward to waking up with you, but I think this might be better,” he said, the smile slowly turning to a grin. “Especially since I know that you’re naked under those covers.”
She gasped, reality slamming into her when she realized what she’d done and what she was supposed to do. Guilt tore through her and she couldn’t take a deep breath for a few seconds, but she finally managed to suck in a ragged breath. Concern replaced the desire in Harrison’s eyes, and he rushed over to the bed, sat down next to her, then pulled her into his arms.
“It’s okay, sweetheart, the island sent us back to my cabin,” he said. “You’re safe, everything is fine. I know last night was a lot to process. You must be a little overwhelmed. Just try to take deep breaths, it will help clear your head.”
Warmth and comfort washed over her, blocking out the other emotions, but she knew that she had to tell Harrison everything. “You don’t understand, it’s not that,” she said. “There’s something I have to tell you, and it might ruin everything. I should have told you sooner.”
Harrison reached up and stroked her cheek. “There’s nothing you can tell me that will change how I feel about you,” he said. “That’s the beauty of bonding. I can only stay mad at you for so long.”
“I’m afraid that you’re going to hate me,” she said. “I know I hate myself.”
He studied her for a second. “Hate is a really strong word,” he said. “This must be serious.”
She took a deep breath and opened her mouth to ruin the best thing that had ever happened to her, but before she could, there was a frantic knock on the door. Harrison tried to ignore it, but the knocking started up again almost instantly. “I’d better go see who that is,” he said. “I guess the village didn’t disappear last night, they felt those earthquakes too, and Max is really pissed off at me.”
“You’d better go see who it is then,” she said, almost relieved to get a reprieve.
Harrison had a worried look on his face when he came back to the bedroom after a short conversation at the door. “I have to go give Max a hand down at the dock. The pier came unhooked during the earthquake last night, and it’s floating in the middle of the bay.”
“Oh, no, that’s terrible,” she said. “Is there something I can do to help?”
“You could wait right there for me until I get back,” Harrison said, grinning at her. “I kind of like the idea of you waiting for me naked in bed.”
A blush spread up her cheeks. “Harrison, I can’t just sit here and wait for you like this,” she said, slightly breathless. “I should come with you and help.”
He walked over to the bed and sank down next to her. “I’d just be worrying about you the whole time,” he said, reaching out and pulling her into his arms. “I haven’t quite recovered from almost losing you last night. I don’t know how long this will take, but I’m sure you can find something safe to do for the day.”
“If that’s what you want, then that’s what I’ll do this time,” she said, grinning up at him. “But if you need me for anything, you’d better let me know.”
“That’s a deal,” he said, giving her a kiss. “I should get going, not that I want to. Make yourself at home, have some breakfast, take a shower, whatever you want. Later we’re going to talk about you moving in here with me for the rest of your trip.”
When Harrison was gone, she stayed in bed, fighting off the guilt that radiated through her, then finally got up, put on her clothes from the day before, and left the cabin, wondering if she’d still be welcome after she told him the truth. After a shower in her own cabin, she felt a little calmer, but her stomach still churned with guilt and apprehension, and she knew that she’d never make it through the day without something to distract her.
Deciding that the village was the best place to start, she started to gather a few things for the day and saw her phone lying on the table. She picked it up and turned it on, her heart sinking when she saw ten messages from her brother, but she turned it off again and set it down on the desk, a new wave of guilt erupting inside her. Harrison would help, she knew that he would. Once he got over being mad at her, he’d do what he was best at and save her brother. At least that’s what she told herself as she walked away from the phone.